Rails link_to with remote: true processing html instead of js after page refresh

Question

I have a search page in my app, where there is an ajax search form. The search form works properly, passing parameters to the model to filter the search, and the model returning a collection of results. Upon search submit, @results are rendered on the page. Each @result then has a link to an action on it, like:

<%=link_to "Message", message_user_path(:id => user.id), :remote => true%>

Where this action in the controller is:

respond_to :js, :html
def message
  @user_id = params[:id]
  @user = User.find_by_id(@user_id)
  respond_to do |format|
    format.html
    format.js
  end
end

and this responds with message.js.erb, which triggers a messaging panel to pop up with a message to the user. All of this is working correctly, checking the log I see the correct get request sent, and the correct format being processed:

Started GET "/users/3/message"
Processing by UsersController#message as JS

However, if I refresh the page and try to click the same link that was working before, I get the error Template is Missing. Checking the log, I see that now there are two requests sent, first an html then the same js request.

Started GET "/users/4/message"
Processing by StudentsController#message as HTML
...
Completed 406 Not Acceptable in 3ms (ActiveRecord: 1.0ms)

Started GET "/users/4/message"
Processing by StudentsController#message as JS

The html request throws the missing template error. Does anyone know why refreshing the page causes rails to attempt to respond with an html request to a remote link?
EDIT: routes.rb

resources :students do
    member do
      get 'message'
    end
end

Answer 1

Does your app/assets/javascripts/application.js contain

//= require jquery
//= require jquery_ujs 

?

And your erb contains <%= javascript_include_tag "application" %>?

I was just struggling with a problem like this for HOURS and the last of those two points fixed it; I saw the first point mentioned in some other questions so I'll repeat it here.

Hope that helps.

(Credit where credit's due)

Answer 2

What solver it for me was adding :format => "js"

So in your case:

<%=link_to "Message", message_user_path(:id => user.id, :format => "js"), :remote => true %>